for the record we have asked the national security agency for an interview. we hope to hear from nsa officials at a later time. now, to the central african republic where french troops have begun disarming rival muslim and christian groups. alex thomson of independent television news was with french forces earlier today in the country's capital bangui. he filed this report. >> reporter: now it's for real on the streets of the capital. disarming the seleka militias, the number one objective says the french military commander. from dawn they set about it. on the ground, on the ground. one pistol and some cartridges off the streets. but these men were eventually allowed to go free. it is the law of diminishing returns. the word soon gets around amongst the militia that the french are here and they avoid the area. what they're basically doing is letting the small fry go but anybody they consider important will be arrested. and so far there've been scores of those this morning. elsewhere, emboldened by the french being here christian mobs now out on the streets, l